Julia’s at the Berkeley City Club is a French restaurant, led by Executive Chef Fabrice Marcon. Our inspiration at Julia’s begins with the bounty of seasonal produce and artisan products available to us in the Bay Area and highlighting those products with classic and modern techniques. Combined with our beautiful atmosphere and refined service, we look to create a memorable dining experience to all of our guests.

Have you wanted to taste many wines on the Julia’s list all in one fell swoop?

Your opportunity has arrived.

Next Wednesday, May 11th, join the Grapevine Wine Club to taste 5-10 wines and enjoy a buffet of wine-friendly finger foods. (sounds amazing, right?)

Upon arriving for the evening, each attendee will be issued 10 tickets.

There will be 20 wines to choose from and they will be “priced” at one or two tickets, depending upon their price on the Julia’s wine list. A taste of wines that cost less than $40 will be one ticket. A taste of wines above $40 will be two tickets.

You may taste between five and ten wines, your choice. Each pour is two ounces.

Pair our stunning wines with a buffet of wine-friendly finger foods and you are set for one amazing evening.

Reservations are still available on Eventbrite, but close to bookings on Friday, May 6th at 12 noon.

If you have had the opportunity to meet Jan, you know she is a wealth of information of all things wine.

If you have not, take a peek into her world and learn a bit!

She is the perfect mix of knowledgeable, friendly and approachable.

Without further adieu, Jan Zvaifler, Wine Buyer and Sommelier.

1. What wines, by the bottle, are affordable and delicious?

This is always a tricky question, because “affordable” is a relative term. I define an affordable wine as one that is reasonably priced considering its “pedigree.”

That said, I love to trawl the markets looking for what I consider to be a truly tasty wine for under $14. The thing about wine, which can be frustrating for some and exciting for others, is that everyone’s palate is different. Just keep exploring and tasting to find the wine that suits your palate and your pocket book.

If you enjoy the $2 wine from Trader Joe’s, drink it unapologetically!

If you like Rosé with your steak (which I often do, especially on a hot summer day), don’t feel you are required to drink Cabernet.

2. What wines get a great “bang for their buck” at Julia’s?

We strive to find affordable wines from all around the world.

It could mean anything from the $27 Pinot Grigio to the $69 Lamborn Zinfandel (which, is a steal at that price – you won’t find it in another restaurant for less than $75 and it’s made by Heidi Barrett, who is considered to be “Napa’s best-known and most sought-after talent” according to Wine Spectator magazine).

3. What are one or more of your favorite “off the beaten path” wines?

I love the whites from Southern Italy; specifically the varietals Falanghina and Fiano; Gruner Veltliner and Riesling from Austria; the reds from the Montsant and Priorat districts of Spain; and Sauvignon Blanc from Chile…those are the ones you can find.

There are also some truly delicious wines being imported now from Turkey and Greece and many other regions that would surprise you.

What do you love most about your role?

My work requires that I seek out good food and wine – both separately and in combination. What’s not to love?

What are some of your favorite food and wine combinations?

I am never comfortable with the term “favorite.” I can’t name a favorite author or book, movie or actor, food or, well … anything. Call me indecisive. But I will throw out a few pairings I enjoy that come to mind at this moment:

Come take a peek with us on our trip to Trinchero Estates Winery, where our well-loved Trinity Oaks Merlot comes from.

Team members from our Events, Food and Beverage, Kitchen and Administrative teams traveled to Napa Valley, CA to learn about how wine is made – from the beginnings of the grape on the branch all the way to the bottling process.

The days were truly memorable for growth, team building and wine education.

Team members had the opportunity to learn sensory training, taste wines and learn standards for table side wine service.

The time spent there was not only memorable but beautiful!

Next time you are at Julia’s, try the Trinity Oaks Merlot. It is a stunning red perfect with many items on the menu!

The next time you are relaxing at Julia’s Lounge, your favorite restaurant or enjoying a glass of wine with friends, you may be able to share knowledge of types of glasses after reading this post.

The best and most practical wine glass will be made with crystal or a thin glass. Thicker glass has been thought to affect the taste of your wine and possibly making it difficult to sip your wine.

For the average wine drinker, four basic types of wine glasses (red, white, sparkling, dessert) may be all you need. For those who wish to expand their enjoyment, appreciation and knowledge of wine, you may want to invest in the more specific types of wine glasses.

Red wine

A red wine glass bowl will be full and round with a large opening to allow you to dip your nose into the glass to detect aroma. The complex aromas and flavors of red wine demand a glass with a larger surface area so the wine comes in contact with more air.

White wine

A white wine glass bowl will be more U shaped and upright allowing the aromas to be released while also maintaining a cooler temperature.

The wine glass for younger whites has a slightly larger opening directing the wine to the tip and sides of the tongue to taste its sweetness.

The glass for more mature whites will be straighter and taller to dispense the wine to the back and sides of the tongue to taste its bolder flavors.

Sparkling wine

A sparkling wine glass (or flute) will be upright and more narrow to retain the carbonation and capture the flavor.

Dessert wine

A dessert wine glass should be smaller to direct the wine to the back of the mouth so the sweetness does not overwhelm the drinker. Dessert wines generally have a higher alcohol content, thus making the small glass perfect for a smaller serving.

Now, come and test your knowledge of wine glasses on your next visit to Julia’s or The Lounge at Julia’s, open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday evenings.